Numerical methods on flow instabilities in steam generator

Yoshikawa, Ryuji  ; Hamada, Hirotsugu  ; Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Yanagisawa, Hideki*

In Japan Atomic Energy Agency, investigations on heat transfer characteristics of steam generator are being performed for the development of Sodium-cooled Fast Breeder Reactor. In this report, the numerical methods were studied for two-phase flow instability analysis in steam generator. For numerical simulation purpose, the flow instability analysis code was developed with homogeneous equilibrium model on single heat transfer tube. The special algorithm to calculate inlet flow rate with inlet pressure, outlet pressure and heat flux as boundary conditions for the density-wave instability analysis has been established. The flow instability in single tube was successfully simulated with homogeneous equilibrium model. Then the drift-flux model including the effects of subcooled boiling and two phase slip was adopted to improve the accuracy. The capability of drift-flux model for simulating density-wave instability in single tube was confirmed.